Northeastern's prized recruit Michael Szmatula is contemplating switching his commitment from the Huskies. The Commerce, Mich. native spent the 2012-13 season playing for the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL.
The Saints won their second USHL Clark Cup championship in three seasons. Head coach Jim Montgomery left his post in Iowa to take over for George Gwozdecky at Denver University.
Now, Montgomery is looking to take one of his top players from Dubuque with him to the Mile High City. Szmatula, a 20 year-old, led the Fighting Saints in scoring with 37 goals and 39 assists for 76 points in 63 games played.
Szmatula pledged his commitment to Northeastern back in November, but according to USHR, he has asked Northeastern head coach Jim Madigan to release him from his National Letter of Intent.
Dubuque's star forward Mike Szmatula has requested a release from his NLI with Northeastern.
— USHR (@USHRhockey) June 10, 2013
If Szmatula ends up de-committing from Northeastern, he would be in a long line of players who have reneged on their commitment to the Huskies. Boston College forwards Johnny and Matt Gaudreau, Providence goaltender Jon Gillies, and Western Michigan's Mike McKee, Justin Kovacs and Garrett Haar have all de-committed from Northeastern in the past few years.
Jeff Cox covers hockey for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.